News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER ED STELMACH ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

March 19, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Ed Stelmach to outline the benefits for Alberta in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

The fiscal balance plan draws on the Report of the Expert Panel, chaired by Mr. Al O'Brien, the former Deputy Treasurer of Alberta.

The fiscal balance plan meets the Government's commitments regarding the treatment of natural resource revenues.

The fiscal balance plans provides fairness to all provinces by legislating equal per capita cash transfers under the Canada Social Transfer immediately, and for the Canada Health Transfer when the Health Accord expires at the end of 2013-14. Together, these measures return federal transfers to the transparent and principled approach that Alberta has long advocated.

Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important benefits to the people of Alberta, both now and in the future."

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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